> TURKEY AND GRAVIES
It's time to talk turkey. If you're cooking one for the first time this Thanksgiving or even if you've cooked one before, do you know if you're preparing it safely? If you're not sure what to do, don't worry − plenty of people have turkey questions and the answers are readily available. Each Thanksgiving, staffers at the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Meat and Poultry Hotline answer hundreds of calls from people who have questions about preparing turkey. "Each Thanksgiving I've worked, I always get two or three people calling and their birds are still in the freezer," says Bessie Berry, manager of the USDA hotline. "They also want to know how long it takes to cook (turkey), and basic kinds of things." Raw or undercooked meat and poultry may contain harmful bacteria, and therefore improper thawing, handling, cooking or storing of that Thanksgiving bird can put hosts and dinner guests at risk for food poisoning, Berry says. We've consulted Berry and another turkey expert, Sherrie Rosenblatt, director of public relations at the National Turkey Federation, and came up with a top 10 list of common mistakes people make when preparing a holiday turkey. Avoid these turkey bloopers: 1. Buying fresh turkeys too early. "If they buy fresh, they usually buy much too early − more than 2 days prior to Thanksgiving," says Berry. You can only keep a fresh turkey refrigerated 1 to 2 days before cooking. (However, a whole frozen turkey can be stored in your home freezer at 0 degrees for up to 1 year.) 2. Cross contamination. "Don't put raw meat or poultry with raw vegetables," says Rosenblatt. Although you may not intentionally have these items in contact, if it happens, there is high risk of cross contamination, that can spell food poisoning. Make sure to wash your hands and the food preparation surface thoroughly in−between preparing the turkey and a salad, for example. 3. Thawing a frozen bird at room temperature. This can lead to a
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Thanksgiving: A Celebration Of Food

potentially unsafe turkey. As the turkey starts to defrost, bacteria will grow on the surface, multiplying to high levels that may not be destroyed during cooking. There are three proper ways to thaw, according to Rosenblatt. One is in the refrigerator, allowing 1 day for every 5 pounds of turkey. An 8−pound bird would take 1 to 2 days to thaw. If you need a quicker way, use cold water, changing the water every 30 minutes. The same 8−pound bird would take about 4 to 6 hours to defrost this way. The third method, Rosenblatt says, is to microwave the turkey "if you can get it in there." Follow the manufacturer's directions and roast immediately after thawing. 4. Partial cooking or prestuffing the night before. Do not partially cook a turkey, because interrupted cooking may increase bacterial growth. Do not prestuff, either, because that can also create a hotbed for organisms to multiply. In addition, the cavity of the bird insulates the stuffing and may prevent it from heating to the proper temperature. If you want a jump on Thanksgiving dinner, Berry recommends premixing the dry and wet stuffing ingredients (to prevent cross contamination) and storing them in separate containers the night before. 5. Overstuffing the turkey. You'll either wind up with undercooked stuffing or an overcooked bird because you'll have to cook beyond the cooking time for the stuffing to reach a safe temperature. The National Turkey Federation recommends cooking the stuffing separately from the turkey because improper handling and inadequate cooking of stuffed birds can increase the possibility of food poisoning. 6. Cooking the turkey at low temperatures overnight. Cooking a turkey below an oven temperature of 325F is unsafe because temperatures lower than this may encourage bacteria to grow inside the turkey where temperatures could stay below the danger zone of 140F. 7. Cooking the turkey ahead of time and letting it sit in the refrigerator. Cooking a turkey ahead of time is all right, but leaving it whole in the refrigerator is not recommended because a cooked bird is just too big to cool quickly enough in a home refrigerator. The solution is to remove the stuffing if the turkey is stuffed, and to carve the turkey and store the slices in covered shallow pans in the refrigerator. When reheating the slices, reheat to 165F. 8. Forgetting the food thermometer. Both Berry and Rosenblatt say a food thermometer is a must. "Temperature is the true indicator that
> TURKEY AND GRAVIES 3

Thanksgiving: A Celebration Of Food

the turkey is done. Time is just a gauge," Rosenblatt says. "Everyone wants to make sure their turkey is moist and pretty. When it's done, it's done. The temperature is going to tell you it's ready." Here's a word of caution on relying on cookbooks. Rosenblatt says temperatures have changed for cooking turkeys. Turkeys today typically take a shorter time to cook. That's because they have more white meat and white meat cooks faster. "Throw away the cookbook and use the thermometer," she says. So what is the right temperature? The turkey should reach an internal temperature of at least 180F. The thermometer should be placed in the thickest part of the thigh between the leg and the breast. If cooking only the turkey breast, it should reach 170F in the thickest part of the breast, according to USDA guidelines. 9. Predicting the exact time your turkey will be ready. "Get over the notion that you can predict when the bird is going to be ready," Berry says. If it is done too early, you can hold it in the oven at 140F or you may have to switch from having a hot turkey to a cold one. 10. Leaving out the leftovers. "People tend to think that once they've cooked the turkey, they can leave it out forever, and they cannot," Berry says. Leftovers shouldn't be left on the table beyond 2 hours, she says. When you're done with your meal, take the turkey off the bone, divide into portions so that it will cool, and refrigerate. Turkey will keep 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator. Use stuffing and gravy within 1 to 2 days. And what happens if you forget to take the turkey out of the freezer on Thanksgiving Day? Berry says you may be surprised to hear that you can actually take the turkey out of its wrap and stick it straight in the oven as is, at a temperature no lower than 325F. Once it is thawed enough, you can remove the giblets and neck from the cavity and continue the cooking process. "It takes about 50% more time for it to cook, but it is certainly safe," Berry says. For more information on turkey tips, check out the National Turkey Federation's Web site, at (www.eatturkey.com). You can also call the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1−800−535−4555 from 8 am to 2 pm ET on Thanksgiving Day. The hotline is staffed by home economists,
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Thanksgiving: A Celebration Of Food

registered dietitians, and food technologists.

> TURKEY AND GRAVIES

5

Gravy Secrets
for each cup of gravy you need one tablespoon each of fat and flour Before hand, make up some rich turkey broth, use the bones or the organs. I like to use the bones but that means no big uncarved turkey on the dinner table. You can simmer turkey neck, heart, gizzard, and and some minced onion, and celery and ½ t salt in enough water to cover until vegetables are done. Dice the turkey liver and use the hot broth to simmer the diced turkey liver for about 15 minutes The turkey bones yield much more broth and you can add more vegetables to the pan. Don't forget to get the brownings from the pan as mom says "that's the goodies" just after you've removed the cooked turkey and roasting rack from the roasting pan. Strain poultry drippings through a sieve into a 4−cup glass measuring cup. I then use 3 tb of corn oil to stir around in the bottom of the pan and get out the brown bits that have baked on. That gets added to my turkey drippings and I still really "wash" the pan out with my turkey broth if its made (or the water I'm going to use in my broth if I haven't made it yet). To make Gravy you need three things; well seasoned fat, flour, and good rich broth. For each cup of finished gravy you need one tablespoon of Fat and one tablespoon of flour and 1 cup of broth. The trick is to know how many cups of broth you have and to see if you have that much fat. If you are light on the broth end you can add some canned chicken broth If you are light on the fat side you can add a small amount of corn oil, or just save the rest of your broth for storing and reheating the turkey. There are a few more tricks to making good gravy. First be sure to take the measured fat and stir into it the measured flour and then put it over the burner. Make sure you have covered all the flour with fat and blended it well. Then you cook the flour and fat mixture until it begins to smell just slightly salty. It will be bubbly and look like its just this side of brown. Next REMOVE THE PAN FROM THE BURNER and whisk in the entire measured liquids. Then return the pan to the burner and slowly bring this almost to a boil. Remember you already cooked the flour in the fat so all you need to do now is stir this until it thickens up to what you like. You can let it stay sort of thin or let it cook out until it is thicker than your Mashed potatoes.

Gravy Secrets

6

Basic Turkey Gravy
1 Package Neck, heart, gizzard from turkey giblets 1 Medium carrot thickly sliced 1 Medium onion thickly sliced 1 Medium celery rib thickly sliced 1/2 Teaspoon salt 1 turkey liver 3 Tablespoons fat from poultry drippings 3 Tablespoons all−purpose flour 1/2 Teaspoon salt In a 3−quart saucepan, over high heat, place neck, heart, gizzard, vegetables, and salt in enough water to cover. Heat to boiling. Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer 45 minutes. Add liver and cook 15 minutes longer. Strain both into a large bowl; cover and reserve broth in the refrigerator. To make gravy, remove the cooked turkey and roasting rack from the roasting pan. Pour poultry drippings through a sieve into a 4−cup measuring cup. Add 1 cup giblet broth to the roasting pan and stir until the crusty brown bits are loosened; pour the deglazed liquid/broth into the 4−cup measure. Let the mixture stand a few minutes, until the fat rises to the top. Over medium heat, spoon 3 tablespoons fat from the poultry drippings into a 2−quart saucepan. Whisk flour and salt into the heated fat and continue to cook and stir until the flour turns golden. Meanwhile, skim and discard any fat that remains on top of the poultry drippings. Add remaining broth and enough water to the poultry drippings to equal 3−1/2 cups. Gradually whisk in warm poultry drippings/broth mixture. Cook and stir, until gravy boils and is slighty thick.

Basic Turkey Gravy

7

Cranberry Gravy
1 (10 1/2 oz.) can condensed chicken broth 1/4 C. lemon juice Grated peel of 1 lemon 1 can whole cranberry jelly Salt and pepper to taste After turkey has been removed from pan, skim off as much fat as possible from drippings (an ice cube passed through the drippings will help to congeal the fat, facilitating the removal), leaving juices and brown bits. Add chicken broth, lemon juice and lemon peel. Cook over medium heat until bubbly hot. Add cranberry jelly to gravy, stirring until dissolved and thoroughly heated through. Add salt and pepper to taste. This will not be a thick gravy, but it may be thickened slightly, if desired. Pour into a warmed gravy boat to serve with turkey and dressing.

Cranberry Gravy

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Guilt−Free Turkey Gravy
1/4 Cup cornstarch 1/4 Cup water 4 Cups turkey broth and defatted pan juices Salt and pepper In a large saucepan, over medium heat, bring turkey broth and pan juices to a boil. Meanwhile, blend until smooth the cornstarch and water. Whisking constantly, slowly add the cornstarch mixture and continue stirring until the gravy is thickened. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Note: To defat pan juices, pour poultry drippings into a glass measuring cup and refrigerate until the fat solidifies. Remove the fat layer and discard.

Guilt−Free Turkey Gravy

9

Giblet Gravy
1 Package Neck, heart, gizzard from turkey giblets 1 Medium carrot thickly sliced 1 Medium onion thickly sliced 1 Medium celery rib thickly sliced 1/2 Teaspoon salt 1 turkey liver 3 Tablespoons fat from poultry drippings 3 Tablespoons all−purpose flour 1/2 Teaspoon salt pepper to taste In a 3−quart saucepan, over high heat, place neck, heart, gizzard, vegetables, and salt in enough water to cover. Heat to boiling. Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer 45 minutes. Add liver and cook 15 minutes longer. Strain broth into a large bowl; cover and reserve broth in the refrigerator. To make the gravy, remove the cooked turkey and roasting rack from the roasting pan. Pour poultry drippings through a sieve into a 4−cup measuring cup. Add 1 cup giblet broth to the roasting pan and stir until the crusty brown bits are loosened; pour the deglazed liquid/broth into the 4−cup measure. Let the mixture stand a few minutes, until the fat rises to the top. Over medium heat, spoon 3 tablespoons fat from the poultry drippings into a 2−quart saucepan. Whisk flour and salt into the heated fat and continue to cook and stir until the flour turns golden. Meanwhile, skim and discard any fat that remains on top of the poultry drippings. Add remaining broth and enough water to the poultry drippings to equal 3−1/2 cups. Gradually whisk in warm poultry drippings/broth mixture. Pull cooked meat from the neck and discard bones. Coarsely chop the neck meat and cooked giblets and stir into gravy. Season with salt and pepper. Cook and stir until gravy simmers and is slightly thick.

Giblet Gravy

10

Champagne Turkey
1 (12 pound) whole turkey, neck and giblets removed 1/2 cup butter, cubed 2 apples, cored and halved 1 tablespoon garlic powder salt and pepper to taste 2/3 (750 milliliter) bottle champagne Preheat oven to 350F. Rinse turkey, and pat dry. Gently loosen turkey breast skin, and insert pieces of butter between the skin and breast. Place apples inside the turkey's cavity. Sprinkle with garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Place turkey in a roasting bag, and pour champagne over the inside and outside of the bird. Close bag, and place turkey in a roasting pan. Bake turkey 3 to 3 1/2 hours in the preheated oven, or until the internal temperature is 180 degrees F (85 degrees C) when measured in the meatiest part of the thigh. Remove turkey from bag, and let stand for at least 20 minutes before carving.

Champagne Turkey

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Deep−Fryed Turkey
3 gallons peanut oil for frying, or as needed 1 (12 pound) whole turkey, neck and giblets removed 1/4 cup Creole seasoning 1 white onion In a large stockpot or turkey fryer, heat oil to 400 degrees F. Be sure to leave room for the turkey, or the oil will spill over. Layer a large platter with food−safe paper bags. Rinse turkey, and thoroughly pat dry with paper towels. Rub Creole seasoning over turkey inside and out. Make sure the hole at the neck is open at least 2 inches so the oil can flow freely through the bird. Place the whole onion and turkey in drain basket. The turkey should be placed in basket neck end first. Slowly lower basket into hot oil to completely cover turkey. Maintain the temperature of the oil at 350 degrees F, and cook turkey for 3 1/2 minutes per pound, about 45 minutes. Carefully remove basket from oil, and drain turkey. Insert a meat thermometer into the thickest part of the thigh; the internal temperature must be 180 degrees F. Finish draining turkey on the prepared platter.

Herb−Roasted Turkey With Citrus Glaze
1 − 15 Pound Whole Turkey fresh or frozen (thawed) 3 Large lemons 2 Large limes 1−1/2 Teaspoon salt, divided 1/2 Teaspoon black pepper coarsely ground 1/4 Cup dry white wine 1/4 Cup packed brown sugar Pan Gravy 1 Bunch, each fresh sage, marjoram, and thyme, divided Preheat oven to 325F. Remove giblets and neck from turkey; reserve for gravy. Rinse turkey with cold running water and drain well. Blot dry with paper towels. Peel skin from lemons and limes to make rose garnishes. Reserve in refrigerator. Squeeze enough juice from the lemons and limes to equal 2 tablespoons each. Cut the remaining lemons and limes in half and place in the turkey cavity. Sprinkle salt in the cavity. In a small bowl, mix the wine, brown sugar, and citrus juices; reserve for glaze. Gently loosen skin from the turkey breast without totally detaching the skin and carefully place 1 tablespoon each fresh sage and marjoram under the skin. Replace the skin. Fold neck skin and fasten to the back with 1 or 2 skewers. Fold the wings under the back of the turkey. Return legs to tucked position. Place turkey, breast side up, on a rack in a large shallow (about 2−1/2 inches deep) roasting pan. Rub turkey with salt, pepper, and 2 to 3 tablespoons of salad oil. Insert oven−safe meat thermometer into the thickest part of the thigh, being careful that the pointed end of the thermometer does not touch the bone. Roast the turkey in a preheated 325 degree F. oven about 3−3/4 hours. During the last hour of roasting time, baste with the pan drippings. During the last 30 minutes, baste with the citrus glaze. Loosely cover with lightweight foil to prevent excessive browning. Continue to roast until the thermometer registers 180 degrees F. in the thigh, or 170 degrees F. in the breast. Remove turkey from the oven and allow it to rest for 15−20 minutes before carving. Place on a warm large platter and garnish the platter with the remaining fresh herbs and lemon and lime roses. Prepare lemon and lime roses as follows: with a small sharp knife or vegetable peeler, cut a continuous thin 1−inch strip of peel. Avoid cutting into the white pith. Roll tightly, skin inside out, and secure with toothpicks. Reserve in a bowl filled with ice water until time for service.
Herb−Roasted Turkey With Citrus Glaze 14

Homestyle Turkey
1 (12 pound) whole turkey 6 tablespoons butter, divided 4 cups warm water 3 tablespoons chicken bouillon 2 tablespoons dried parsley 2 tablespoons dried minced onion 2 tablespoons seasoning salt Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Rinse and wash turkey. Discard the giblets, or add to pan if they are anyone's favorites. Place turkey in a Dutch oven or roasting pan. Separate the skin over the breast to make little pockets. Put 3 tablespoons of the butter on both sides between the skin and breast meat. This makes for very juicy breast meat. In a medium bowl, combine the water with the bouillon. Sprinkle in the parsley and minced onion. Pour over the top of the turkey. Sprinkle seasoning salt over the turkey. Cover with foil, and bake in the preheated oven 3 1/2 to 4 hours, until the internal temperature of the turkey reaches 180 degrees F (80 degrees C). For the last 45 minutes or so, remove the foil so the turkey will brown nicely.

Homestyle Turkey

15

Maple Roast Turkey and Gravy
2 cups apple cider 1/3 cup real maple syrup 2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme 2 tablespoons chopped fresh marjoram 2 1/2 teaspoons lemon zest 3/4 cup butter salt and ground black pepper to taste 14 pounds whole turkey, neck and giblets reserved 2 cups chopped onion 1 cup chopped celery 1 cup coarsely chopped carrots 2 cups chicken stock 3 tablespoons all−purpose flour 1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme 1 bay leaf 2 tablespoons apple brandy (optional) Boil apple cider and maple syrup in a heavy saucepan over medium−high heat until reduced to 1/2 cup (about 20 minutes). Remove from heat and mix in 1/2 of the thyme and marjoram and all of the lemon zest. Add the butter, and whisk until melted. Add salt and ground pepper to taste. Cover and refrigerate until cold (syrup can be made up to 2 days ahead). Preheat oven to 375F. Place oven rack in the lowest third of oven. Wash and dry turkey, and place in a large roasting pan. Slide hand under skin of the breast to loosen. Rub 1/2 cup of the maple butter mix under the breast skin. If planning on stuffing turkey, do so now. Rub 1/4 cup of the maple butter mixture over the outside of the turkey. With kitchen string, tie legs of turkey together loosely. Arrange the chopped onion, chopped celery, and chopped carrot around the turkey in the roasting pan. If desired, the neck and giblets may be added to the vegetables. Sprinkle the remaining thyme and marjoram over the vegetables, and pour the chicken stock into the pan. Roast turkey 30 minutes in the preheated oven. Reduce oven temperature to 350F, and cover turkey loosely with foil. Continue to roast, about 3 to 4 hours unstuffed or 4 to 5 hours stuffed, until the internal temperature of the thigh reaches 180F and stuffing reaches 165F. Transfer turkey to a platter, and cover with foil. Reserve pan mixture for gravy. Allow turkey to sit about 25 minutes before removing stuffing and carving.
Maple Roast Turkey and Gravy 16

Thanksgiving: A Celebration Of Food

To Make Gravy: Strain pan juices into a measuring cup. Spoon fat from juices. Add enough chicken stock to make 3 cups. Transfer liquid to a heavy saucepan and bring to a boil. In a small bowl, mix reserved maple butter mixture with flour to form a paste, and whisk into the broth. Stir in thyme, bay leaf, and apple brandy. Boil until reduced and slightly thickened. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Roast Turkey With Herbal Rub
1 − 13 Pound Whole Turkey fresh or thawed 1 Medium onion quartered 1 lemon quartered 1/4 Cup vegetable oil 1 Teaspoon dried thyme 1 Teaspoon dried tarragon 1 Tablespoon dried rosemary 1 Teaspoon salt 1/2 Teaspoon freshly ground black pepper Preheat oven to 325F. Remove giblets and neck from turkey and reserve for broth. Rinse turkey with cold running water and pat dry with paper towels. Place onion and lemon quarters in neck and body cavities. In a small bowl, mix oil with herbs, salt and pepper. With your finger tips, gently loosen skin from the breast without pulling off the skin. Place 1 tablespoon of herb mixture under skin; replace skin. Rub cavities and outside of turkey with remaining herb mixture. Secure the neck skin to the back with skewers. Fold wings under back of turkey. Place legs in tucked position. May be prepared to this point, covered and refrigerated for several hours. Place turkey, breast side up, on a rack in a large shallow (no more than 2−1/2 inches) deep roasting pan. Insert an oven−safe thermometer into the thickest part of the thigh, being careful it does not touch the bone. Cover bird with a loose tent of foil. Roast turkey in a preheated 325 degree F. oven for about 2−1/2 hours. Remove foil and baste bird with pan juices. Continue to roast for about another hour until meat thermometer registers 180 degrees F. in the thigh. Remove turkey from oven and allow to rest for 15−20 minutes before carving. Transfer to a large platter and serve with gravy.

sauce consistency, whisking occasionally, about 10 minutes. Mix in apple brandy, if desired. Season gravy to taste with salt and pepper. Brush turkey with any remaining maple butter and serve with gravy.

Roast Turkey with Maple Herb Butter

21

Roast Turkey with White−Wine Gravy
12− to 14−pound turkey (reserving neck and giblets, but excluding liver, for making stock) 1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter 8 sprigs mixed fresh herbs such as thyme, sage, rosemary, and/or marjoram 1 1/2 cups water For gravy: 1 large onion 1 1/2 cups dry white wine 4 cups Turkey Giblet Stock plus additional for thinning gravy 1/3 cup all−purpose flour Garnish: large bouquet of mixed fresh herb sprigs Preheat oven to 325° F. Rinse turkey inside and out and pat dry. Fold neck skin under body and fasten with a small skewer. Using small skewers secure wings to body. Transfer turkey to a rack set in a roasting pan and melt butter. Brush inside of turkey with some butter and season with salt and pepper. Put herb sprigs inside body cavity. Brush outside of turkey with remaining butter and season with salt and pepper. Loosely tie drumsticks together with kitchen string. Roast turkey in middle of oven 1 hour. Add water to pan and roast turkey, basting every 20 minutes, 2 hours more, or until a meat thermometer inserted in fleshy part of a thigh registers 175° F. and juices run clear when thigh is pierced. Transfer turkey to a heated platter and reserve juices in pan. Remove skewers and discard string. Let turkey stand 30 minutes. While turkey is standing, make gravy: Finely chop onion. Skim fat from reserved pan juices and reserve 1/2 cup fat (for sautéing onions, below, and for stuffing). On top of stove deglaze pan with wine over moderately high heat, scraping up brown bits, and boil mixture until reduced to about 1/2 cup. Add 4 cups stock and bring to a simmer. Pour wine mixture through a sieve into a saucepan. In a large, heavy skillet sauté onion in 1/4 cup reserved fat over moderately high heat, stirring frequently, until browned, about 15 minutes. Stir in flour and cook roux over moderately low heat, whisking, 3 minutes. Bring wine mixture to a simmer. Add hot wine mixture to roux in a fast stream, whisking constantly to prevent lumps, and simmer, whisking occasionally, 10 minutes. Whisk in additional stock to thin gravy to desired consistency. Season gravy with salt and pepper and
Roast Turkey with White−Wine Gravy 22

Thanksgiving: A Celebration Of Food

transfer to a heated sauceboat. Garnish turkey with herb bouquet and serve with gravy.

Tangerine−Glazed Turkey
10 pounds whole turkey, neck and giblets reserved 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened 3/4 cup canola oil 1 1/2 cups tangerine juice 2 1/4 cups turkey stock 3 tablespoons all−purpose flour 2 cups Sausage, Apple and Dried Cranberry Stuffing Preheat oven to 425F. Rinse the turkey, pat it dry, and season inside with salt and pepper. Pack the neck cavity loosely with the stuffing. Fold the neck skin under the body, and fasten it with a skewer. Pack the body cavity loosely with the remaining stuffing. Tie the drumsticks together (truss) with butcher's twine. Spread the turkey with 1/2 of the butter (6 tablespoons) and season it with salt and pepper. Place turkey in a shallow roasting pan; roast for 25 minutes. Meanwhile, in a saucepan, melt the remaining butter (6 tablespoons) with the oil and tangerine juice; allow mixture to cool. Reduce the oven temperature to 325F. Baste the turkey with the pan juices and drape it with a piece of cheesecloth soaked in the tangerine−oil mixture. Roast the turkey for one hour before basting the turkey with the tangerine−oil mixture and pan juices (over the cheesecloth) every 20 minutes for 2 1/2 hours more (or until juices run clear when the fleshy part of a thigh is pricked with a skewer and a meat thermometer inserted in the fleshy part of a thigh registers 180−185F. Discard the cheesecloth and the trussing string from turkey. Transfer the turkey to a heated platter, reserving the pan juices in the roasting pan; let stand for 25 minutes before carving and spooning out stuffing into a serving dish. Skim the fat from the remaining pan juices and reserve 1/4 cup. Add 1 cup of the stock to the pan juices and deglaze the pan over high heat, scraping up the brown bits. In a saucepan, whisk the 1/4 cup of reserved fat and flour. Cook the "roux" over low heat, whisking, for 3 minutes. Add the remaining 2 cups stock and the deglazing liquid; continue to whisk. Simmer the gravy for 10 minutes, stirring constantly, then strain through a sieve. Add chopped giblets; transfer to gravy boat and serve.

Old Fashioned Bread Stuffing
3−4 loaves of white bread (or 5 if you like leftovers) water chicken broth insides of the turkey 2 bunches of celery 1 or 2 onions 2 Tablespoon butter 1/2 tsp. sage oysters (optional) mushrooms (option) The night before you want to eat the stuffing, break the bread into small pieces (about 1 inch squares) into 2 huge bowls or pots. Let the bread sit overnight to dry out. The next day, after you remove the insides of turkey, boil them in water in 2/3 qt. sauce pan until cooked (about 20/30 minutes). Remove insides for later use or discard. Keep water and put aside. Preheat oven to 350F. Chop onion and celery and place into food processor until minced. Melt 2−3 tablespoons of butter in large saucepan. Saute onion and celery until heated through. Do not brown! (Saute mushrooms also at this time if wanted). Depending on how much stuffing you want and how much celery and onion you've chopped, you may have to saute the onion and celery in two parts. Once cooked, pour the onion/celery mixture directly over the dried out bread. Pour 1/2 tsp. sage over bread/onion/celery mixture. Then take your reserved water and pour slowly over bread. The bread will shrink as you do this. Be careful not to pour too much water in. Mix thoroughly and smell/taste for perfect stuffing. 12.If you need more liquid, open a can of chicken broth and pour over bread. If you need more spice, add more sage. If you are using oysters, add them now. Once stuffing is of a consistency that it will stick together and does not look too dry, do not add more liquid. Either stuff in turkey to be baked in oven, or put in 9 x 13 pan. If using oysters, it is recommended that you bake the stuffing in a pan so as to ensure the oysters will be cooked through. Bake in 350 degree oven for 45 minutes to an hour. You want the stuffing to have a nice brown crust on top. P.S. If you are cooking the stuffing in a pan and not inside the turkey, try stuffing the turkey with small apples. It smells wonderful and the apples have a great flavor when you take them out.
Old Fashioned Bread Stuffing 35

Cranberry Relish
2 oranges 1 cup sugar 2 teaspoons lemon juice 2 teaspoons fresh ginger, cut in fine julienne 1 bag (12 ounces) fresh or frozen cranberries 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground white pepper Peel 1 orange and cut the zest (orange part only) into a very fine julienne, as thin as possible; set aside. Squeeze both oranges for juice; set aside. Combine sugar and lemon juice in a small sauté pan. Heat up slowly and continue cooking until the sugar begins to caramelize. If necessary, wash down the sides of the pan by brushing with a little water to keep the sugar from burning. When the sugar is caramel colored, add the julienned ginger and orange zest. Cook for about 1 minute, then add the cranberries, orange juice and pepper. Continue to cook on medium−high heat, stirring frequently, for about 5 minutes or until the cranberries are slightly broken but not mushy (frozen cranberries will take about 7 minutes). Remove from the heat and let cool. Makes 3 cups.

Roast Garlic Mashed Potatoes
8 to 10 cloves garlic, peeled 1 cup olive oil 4 russet potatoes 2 tbsp. butter 1/3 to 1/2 cup heavy cream 1/4 cup Asiago cheese, grated 2 tbsp. Parmigiano−Reggiano cheese, grated Salt and pepper, to taste Put the garlic and olive oil in a heavy saucepan over lowest possible heat and simmer until soft; 30 to 40 minutes. Drain off oil (reserve for marinades or vinaigrettes). Puree garlic; set aside. Meanwhile, prick potatoes with a fork and bake in a 400F oven for 1 hour, or until soft. While still hot, peel and mash, or pass through a potato ricer. Melt butter in heavy cream; whisk in pureed garlic. Stir into potatoes. Stir in cheeses and season with salt and pepper. Spoon into a gratin dish. Place in a 400 F oven for 12 to 15 minutes or until browned and bubbling.

Roast Garlic Mashed Potatoes

59

Roasted Parsnips with Thyme
2 pounds parsnips (5 to 6 medium) 3 tablespoons unsalted butter 1 1/2 tablespoons (packed) dark brown sugar 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 3 tablespoons coarsely chopped fresh thyme Preheat the oven to 425F. Peel the parsnips and cut them into 2−inch lengths. Quarter the thickest pieces, halve the medium ones, and leave the thinnest ones whole. You want all the pieces to be about the same size. Put the butter in a shallow baking dish large enough to hold the parsnips in a single layer and put the dish in the oven until the butter melts. Stir in the brown sugar and vinegar. Add the parsnips, salt, and pepper and stir to coat all the pieces evenly. Bake for 20 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven and stir in the thyme. Continue to bake until the parsnips are browned and tender when pierced with a fork, about 10 minutes longer. Makes 4 servings.

Southern Greens
8 cups water 1 pound boned smoked pork shoulder, cut into 1/2−inch pieces 3 pounds greens (such as collard, mustard, turnip or kale, or a combination), stemmed Combine water and smoked pork in heavy large pot. Cover and simmer 1 hour. Season cooking liquid with salt and pepper. Bring liquid to boil. Add greens and cook over high heat until just tender, about 12 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer greens and pork to platter. Moisten greens with 1/4 cup cooking liquid.

Southern Greens

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Southern Oyster Casserole
2 quarts oysters 1/4 pound (1 stick) butter 3 whole scallions, chopped 1 green or red bell pepper, seeded, deribbed, and chopped 1/2 pound mushrooms, sliced 1/4 cup flour 1 cup heavy cream 1/4 cup grated imported Parmesan cheese Freshly grated nutmeg 1/2 teaspoon paprika Salt Freshly ground black pepper 1/2 cup bread crumbs Preheat the broiler. Grease a 9x13−inch ovenproof serving dish or spray it with nonstick spray. Drain the oysters and set aside. Melt 2 tablespoons of the butter in a heavy casserole. Add the scallions and pepper and saute until the onion is soft, about 5 minutes. Add the mushrooms and oysters and saute for 5 minutes. In a separate pan, melt 2 tablespoons of the remaining butter. Stir in the flour. When smooth, add the cream, and stir until boiling and thick. Add the cheese. Stir this cheese sauce into the oyster mixture and season with nutmeg, paprika, salt, and pepper. The casserole may be made ahead to this point and refrigerated overnight. Return it to the simmer on top of the stove before proceeding. Pour the mixture into the prepared dish and top with the bread crumbs and dot with the remaining butter. Place under the broiler until browned and bubbling—about 10 minutes, depending on the depth of the casserole. Makes 10 to 20 servings as a starter.

Fruit Salad with Champagne Sauce
1 cup kiwi, peeled and cut into 1/4 inch cubes 1 cup figs, peeled and cut into 1/4 inch cubes 1 cup grapes, sliced in half 1 cup fresh strawberries, sliced in half 1 cup fresh raspberries 2 egg yolks 1/3 cup granulated sugar 1 cup Champagne Heat broiler to its highest setting. Divide the cut fruits into 4 soup plates, arranging them decoratively. Make sauce by combining egg yolks and sugar in a mixing bowl. Whisk briskly until the yolks begin to turn a light lemony color. Add the Champagne a little bit at a time, whisking constantly until well blended. Place the mixing bowl in a pot or pan and pour about 1 inch of water around it. Bring the water to a simmer and continue to whisk vigorously until the mixture becomes light and foamy. Once the mixture starts to thicken, remove the bowl from the heat. Do not overcook. Continue to whisk for 10 seconds. Pour equal amounts of sauce over each fruit salad. Place the plates under the broiler about 3 inches from the source of heat and allow them to cook just until they are lightly browned on the surface, rotating as needed. Serve immediately with remaining Champagne to accompany.

Shaved Fennel and Apple Salad
1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice 2 tablespoons chopped fresh tarragon 1/3 cup extra−virgin olive oil 1/3 cup canola oil Salt and freshly ground black pepper 2 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, and halved 2 bulbs fennel, thinly sliced To prepare the vinaigrette: Whisk together the lemon juice, chopped tarragon, and olive and canola oils in a small bowl and season to taste with salt and pepper. To prepare the salad: Cut the apple into thin slices and place in a medium bowl with the fennel. Toss with the vinaigrette and season to taste with salt and pepper. Makes 8 servings.

Sugar Snap Salad
4 cups bibb (or butter) lettuce 4 cups sugar snap peas, string removed 3 tablespoons minced shallots 4 teaspoons sherry vinegar salt and black pepper, to taste 7 teaspoons extra−virgin olive oil 1/2 cup roughly chopped fresh basil 3 tablespoons chopped italian flat leaf parsley Wash and dry the lettuce and tear into bite−sized pieces. Make the vinaigrette by combining the shallots, vinegar, salt, pepper and olive oil and set aside. Make an ice bath by filling a large bowl with ice and cold water and set that aside. In a large pot, blanch peas in boiling water for about 3 minutes, until peas are bright green and cooked but still crunchy. Immediately, drain the peas and plunge into the ice bath. Once the peas have cooled and stopped cooking remove them from the ice bath. Remove excess water from peas by blotting with a paper towel. Up to this point, the salad can be made a day in advance, refrigerated as separate components. Use the lettuce to line the bottom of a serving dish and add peas, basil, and parsley to another bowl. Add vinaigrette and toss. Put this mixture on top of the lettuce and serve immediately.

3/4−inch overhang, and fold overhang under edge of bottom shell, pressing to seal. Crimp edge decoratively. In a small bowl whisk together 1/2 tablespoon water and yolk and lightly brush crust with egg wash. Sprinkle crust with sugar and with a knife cut several steam vents. Bake pie in middle of oven until crust is golden, 30 to 35 minutes, and transfer to a rack to cool. Pie may be made 8 hours ahead and kept at room temperature. Serve pie warm or at room temperature.

increments, stirring continuously with a fork. Form the dough into a ball and chill in the refrigerator for 1 hour. Pumpkin Filling − Combine all the ingredients thoroughly in a medium bowl; set aside. Pecan Syrup − Combine all the ingredients thoroughly in a medium bowl; set aside. Assembly − Preheat the oven to 325F. Grease an 8−inch springform cake pan. Roll out the dough on a lightly floured work surface to 3/16 inch. Very lightly flour the top of the dough and fold it into quarters. Carefully place the dough in the greased cake pan. Press firmly in place and trim the edges. Chill for 15 minutes. Spoon the Pumpkin Filling into the pan, spreading evenly to distribute. Gently pour the Pecan Syrup on top. Bake until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean, about 1 hour and 45 minutes. Cool and serve with Whiskey Butter Sauce. Whiskey Butter Sauce − Melt the butter in the top of a double boiler set over gently simmering water. Beat the sugar and egg in a small bowl until blended. Stir the egg mixture into the butter. Add the hot water and stir until the mixture coats the back of a spoon, about 7 minutes. Remove from the double boiler and let cool to room temperature. Stir in the cream and whiskey. Makes an 8−inch pie.